Dipping machine



1. R. CALDWELL.

Mar. 27, 1923.

DIPPING MACHINE.

FILED JUNE 16. 1921.

3 SHEET SHEET l.

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Mar. 27, 1923.

1,449,744. J. R. CALDWELL. DIPPING MACHINE.

FILED JUNE 16,1921. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,449,444 earn-Ni otter-ca.

JAMES R. CALDWELL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THESEAJELESSRUBBER COMPANY, INC, OF -NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

DIPPING MACHINE.

Application filed June 16, 1921. Serial No. 478,116.

State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Dipping Machines,of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specifica tion, like characters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts. 4

This invent-ion relates to a machine for applying coating to objects bydipping them oneor more times in a bath of suitable material. Thisprocess is utilized in forming small rubber objects such as the nipplesof nursing bottles, finger cots toy balloons and the bulbs of medicinedroppers, suitable forms being repeatedly dipped into a solution ofrubber cement which, drying on the forms, builds up the desired article.The

embodiment of the invention here shown is particularly designed for thisuse and the purpose is to provide an eflicient and rapidly operatingmachine which will be of great flexibility to meet the varyingconditions of use met in practice, 7

My invention will best be understood by reference to the followingdescription of the Fig. l

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. l on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 1 is a detail of a portion of Fig. 3 on a still larger scale;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a portion of the machine as seen from theright of Fig. 1; I

Fg. dis a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine embodies a dipping tank 9 and a formcarrier 11, the two :being movable toward and from one another in avertical direction so that forms on the carrier may be dipped into theliquid in the tank and in the presentembodiment of the invention thetank is stationary and the carrier movable up and down. To move thecarrier 11 up and down it is mounted as a whole in the verticallyreciprocable frame comprising the cross bar 13 and the depending sidebars 15, the latter as best shown in Fig. 7 being provided withchanneled guides which receive the flangesof the vertical T irons 17.The frame guided on the T irons 17 may be moved vertically bymeans of asuitable hoist comprising the .cables 19 secured to the members 15 andwrapped about drums 21 on the overhead shaft 23 which is adapted to bedriven by suitable power in the manner hereafter described.

The form carrier 11 is preferably designed to accommodate several setsof forms and may take the form clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of askeletonized prism, conveniently square in section as indicated, andsupported by a shaft 25 journalled in the depending members 15.Referring to Fig. 3, the forms 27 for the articles to be dipped may bemounted .on suitable boards 29 which are clamped to the faces of .therismatic form. 11 and for this purpose eac face maybe. provided at oneend with the overhanging flange 31 to receive one edge of the board andalong the opposite edge there is hinged an angle iron 33 which may beswung clownwardly on its hinge to permit the board to bein serted underthe flange 31 with a button-holing motion and then closed to theposition shown in Fig. 3 to retain the board in position. To hold thehinged angle iron 33 in position latches 35 may be provided. adapted toswing up behind the same to the position shown in Fig. 4, the latches 35closing in behind the keepers 37.

When any single set of forms is being dipped, that face of the formcarrier is substantially horizontal, paralleling the surface of theliquid in the tank 9. To insure this parallel position and consequenteven immersion of the forms and to hold the form carrier in thisposition, suitable locking means may be provided, preferably effectiveonly when the carrier is near dipping position. Herein I have shownmounted on the shaft 25 at one end of the carrier 11 the enlargedpolygonal wheel 39 considerably greater in size than the carrier and,

side of the tank and permit forms on the carrier 11 to enter the tank inspite of the larger size of the wheel 39. The wheel 39 is preferablypolygonal as shown and may have twice as many sides as the base of theprism which forms the carrier, that is, being octagonal in the presentinstance and certain of these sides are parallel with the sides of thecarrier, thus providing a guide and indicator of the position of thecarrier itself since a horizontal position of the side of the wheel 39will indicate a corresponding horizontal position of the carrier 11. Atthe same time the fact that the polygon has more sides than the base ofthe prism gives the wheel 39 a finished wheel-like form and whileproviding an adequate mechanical advantage when the wheel is used as aturning member as hereafter described, restricts the area through whichthe wheel sweeps.

Suitable means cooperating with the wheel 39 are provided for lockingthe carrier in position and, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 1, those sidesof the wheel parallel with the faces of the carrier 11 may be providedon the outer side with guides, each preferably formed of a pair ofsprings 41 secured at one end and thence inclining outwardly and towardeach other and having inturned ends passing through suitable slots inthe wheel, these inturned ends defining between them aradial openingwhich is adapted to receive a stationary guide 43 disposed beside thetank, and provided with a bevelled end facing the wheel asshown in Fig.1.

If the wheel 39 approaches the guide 43 in a position somewhat displacedcircumferentially from that illustrated in Fig. 2, the bevelled end ofthe guide 43 will strike a spring 41 and wedge it inwardly permittingthe continuing descent of the wheel. The operator may seize the wheel39, which provides a powerful leverage, and bring it into the properposition and the guide will slide along the incline provided by thespring until it snaps into the slot between the two springs. The edge ofthe guide 43 below the bevelled end substantially coincides with theface of wheel 39 as shown in Fig. 1 and as the forms reach dippingposition the wheel is necessarily locked by the engagement of the guidein the slot and the form carrying board disposed parallel with thesurface of the liquid in the tank 9.

I will next describe the mechanism here shown for raising and loweringthe form carrier which preferably provides for a slow speed and a highspeed in raising and lowering. Herein (see Fig. 1) the drum shaft 23 isadapted to be driven by the worm shaft 45, the worm acting as aneffective locking means for the shaft when no power is applied, and theworm shaft takes motion a reversible electric motor 55, convenientlysecured to the ceiling, which is adapted to drive in one direction oranother the shaft 57 mounted on hangers on the ceiling and carrying thesmall loose pulley 59 and the large loose pulley 61 which may berelatively clutched to the shaft by motion of the clutch 63 which alsohas a neutral position in which both pulleys are loose. 1n the neutralposition of the clutch, of course, no power is transmitted to the hoistshaft 23. The small pulley 59 is belted to the large pulley 51 on shaft49 and drives that shaft with a relatively slow speed in such a way aseither to wind up the cables 19 on their drums or unwind them inaccordance with the direction of rotation of the reversible motor. Thelarge pulley 61 is belted to the small pulley 53 on the shaft 49 andprovides for driving that shaft at a relatively high speed.

Means are provided whereby the form carrier 11 may be rotated,preferably forward and back, at an elevated position thereof in order tofacilitate the drying of the coating on the forms. For this purpose theshaft 25 of the carrier may support at its outer end agear 65 which, asbest shown in Fig. 2, is

adapted to roll into contact with the later-- ally disposed pinion 67when the carrier rises to the position shown in that figure. The pinion67 (see Figs. 1 and 3) takes its motion from an electric motor 69connected thereto by an automatic reversing mechanism 71. This mechanismmay be substantially like that illustrated in the patent to .Henrici,1,316,093, September 16, 1919, and it is therefore unnecessary toillustrate it in detail in this place. Suflice it to say that itprovides for periodically reversing the motion of the shaft carrying thepinion 67. This may be effected as in the patent referred to byreversing the direction of rotation of the motor 69. The form carrier 11may thus be rotated a predetermined number of revolutions, say forexample four, in a counterclockwise direction, will then rotate the samenumber of revolutions in a clockwise direction and so on until the motoris shut off or the gear 65 moved out of engagement with the pinion 67.

The operation of the device is as follows. The tank 9 is filled to asuitable level with a rubber solution. The operator fills the sides ofthe carrier 11 with boards 29, (see Fig. 3) on which are mounted theforms to be dipped, locking them in place by folding the angle iron 33over the edge of the board and looking it by the latch 35 which entersbehind the keeper 37. The parts being in the position shown in Figs. 1and 2, the motor 55 (see Fig. 5) is started, the clutch 63 (Fig. 6) isthrown into engagement'with the a slightly by hand until the guide 43properly engagesbetween the springs 41 (see F ig. 2). Itwillbenoted thatwhile theframe is being lowered itis entirely free to rotate and isnotconnected in any way with anydriving mechanism and may be turned byhand on .its horizontal axis without any dilhculty. I

When the forms have entered thesolut on I in the tank to the properdepth the operator reverses the motor and causes theframe 11 to rise atthe slow speed. Immediately when the forms are withdrawn from theviscous cement it tends-to run down on the the wheel 39 and reversesthe; frame ll so that the board just dipped will beat the top.

The hoistingv motion of the frame n ay beavailed of toassist in thisoperation. ...At about the same time the clutch 63 is: thrown and theframe rapidly elevatedto the position shown inFig. 2 where the gear 65'will engage pinion-67 and,when the frame has neutral andthe verticalmotion of the frame halted. I I I I The operator then energizes motor 69and the frame .11 will be rotated "a desired numsired number of times inthe other direction until thecoating is sufficiently set '.'Ihe rotationof the carrier facilitates the congealing of the coating and theperiodical reversal of thisrotation prevents the viscous cement fromflowing over toward one side of the form due to its inertia during therotation thereof'and the reaction of the air against it and insures thecoating being dried in a layer of uniform thickness.

After the coating is set the motion of the motor 69 is halted and theframe lowered again to dip a new set of forms, the operator turningthe'frame by means of the. enlarged operating wheel 39 to present anundipped set to the tank'if such a set is not already so presented andthe cycle of operations is repeated until all the forms are coated andif necessary or desired repeated for each set of forms until a properthickness of material is built up. The boards 33 may then be removed andnew forms substituted.

' reversal of therot'ation of' the 'formcarrier In a machine of theclass described, in combination with a "tank, a form carrier movable,upwardly and downwardly from her of times in onedirection and their ade-.

I fllhe inebhanism:described'is'very' efiicient it s joperation mt ery,flexible in abilities I as" it; provides adequate mechanical means forcarryin foutthe operations.

without; preventing proper variations and .adjustments to be made 'to"i11eet th'e' varying" requirements of practice. As an example ofsuchl'fiexibility will benoted the mounting'if offthe"form carrier llso' that I after itIs tiartslowering it isfentir'ely free to be revolvedby; hand in a manner con- ;ven'ie'n'tly' provided f o'rby the enlargedwheel 39 to adjust-or position the form carriers relatively to the tankwithout any resistance of attached mechanism 'OppOSingfsuch moti -{Th6.r ietiqnq f he terrier y, means. ff? "cable" hoist with; 'atwo speeddrive ipieffiiits a"variable dipping and enablesi'the operator to changefrom high to low speed I at the; best point as dictated byrti'cula'r-work at hand: The automatic in I cooling position the mostefficient methodjfor providinga smooth and uniform tthefsame time causng' rapjid coating and con ealing-thereof?' I I I I aving',thus'described indetail the particular embodiment of "my invention shownbyway of" example in .the accompanying I drawings, what I' claim as"new, and desire to 1 Secure Letters Patent I shall express infthefollowingclaimsf; j a x 11. ,machineof the class described-comprising,in combination with a tank, a verdeally movable form carrier freelyrotatable about a; horizontal axisandfm'ean's for a i connect-ing saidcarrier with power driven reached this position, clutch 63 is throwngto,

rotating jmeansz' in an" elevated position andto. the tank and-freelyrotatable on a horizontal axis, power driven rotatingmeans Icooperatingwith-the carrier in an elevated position; thereof; 3 andlocking, means .coop- ..era'ting. .with. the carrier solely inthe lowerII part of: its-path tO holdit against rotation combination with a tank,a form carrier movable upwardly and downwardly from and to the tank andfreely rotatableon a horizontal axis, power driven rotating meanscooperating with the carrier in an elevated position thereof, anenlarged wheel on the axis of the carrier disposed laterally of the tankand a locking member cooperating with said wheel to hold the carrieragainst rotation in the lower part of its path.

5. A' machine of the class described comprising, in combination, adipping tank, a

form carrier, means for moving one to and from the other andautomatically reversing means for revolving the form carrier.

6. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, adipping tank, a rotatable form carrier, means for moving one to and fromthe other and power means for rotating the carrier arranged to permitreversal of the direction of rotation.

7 A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a dippingtank, a rotatable form carrier, means for moving one to and from theother and means for revolving the carrier a determined number ofrevolutions in one direction and thereafter in the opposite direction.

8. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, adipping tank, a form carrier, a hoist for raising and lowering one ofthem comprising a drum shaft, a power shaft and alternatively operabledriving connections of different speed ratios between said shafts.

9. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination with. atank, a freely rotatable form carrier, means for raising and loweringthe carrier having two speeds effective alt will and means forconnecting the carrier with rotating mechanism in an elevated positionthereof.

10. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination with atank, a prismatic form carrier freely rotatable about a horizontal axis,means for raising and lowering the carrier having two speeds effectiveat will and means for connecting the carrier with rotating mechanism inan elevated posit-ion thereof.

11. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination with a.tank, a prismatic form carrier freely rotatable about a horizontal axis,means for raising and lowering the carrier having two speeds effectiveat will, means for connecting the carrier with rotating mechanism in anelevated position thereof and locking means. holding it against rotationwith a face thereof horizontal in the lower part of its path.

12. In a machine of the class described, a prismatic form carrierrotatable on a horizontal axis and a hand wheel associated there-withcomprising a. polygon larger than the base of the prism, the number ofsides of the polygon being a whole multiple of the number of sides ofsaid base, certain of the former sides being parallel to the latter.

1.3. In a machine of the class described comprising, in combination, adipping tank and a form carrier, one being movable toward and from theother, means for positioning the carrier when near the tank comrisinieldabl mounted inclines on one element defining an opening between themand a guide adapted to enter the opening havin a bevelled end.

14. in a machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a.dipping tank and a form'carrier, one being movable toward and from theother, means for positioning the carrier when near the tank comprisinga. plate on one element, springs thereon having inturned ends andpresenting a pair of inclines defining ;an opening between them and aguide adapted to; enter the opening having a bevelled end.

15. In a machine of the class described comprising, in combination, adipping tanlr In testimony whereof, I have signed my I name to thisspecification.

JAMES R. CALDWVELL.

